Americas stuns previously unbeaten No. 1 Pebble Hills, 23-21
Through the first half of the season, the Americas football team bore the unfortunate tag of "better than their record" as they stumbled to a 1-4 start.
The last day of September, however, still leaves time for a rewrite and Americas just authored a stunning new chapter to its season with a 23-21 upset of previously undefeated city No. 1 Pebble Hills.
A TrailBlazers defense that was outstanding except for three long pass plays made a red-zone stop in the middle of the fourth quarter, then the offense and quarterback Matt Moore pounded the last 4:13 off the clock with a series of up-the-middle keepers.
As the clock hit 0:00, 5-foot-8, 220-pound defensive tackle Stephen Gutierrez, who had a late pivotal sack on the game-winning stop, did a reverse handspring in celebration to close a crazy weekend in District 1-6A.
What they said
"We've been knocking on the door all year, we've played close games with good teams, we just hadn't taken that next step," coach Patrick Melton said after his team went to 2-2 in a suddenly wild District 1-6A. "That's been the focus all week: Just finish. Let's go.
"The district is wide open, that's how we've felt all year, a couple of plays is going to make the difference every game."
Moore had a solid passing night, going 10-of-17 for 150 yards and a touchdown, but he made a difference with his feet as well. He rushed for 128 yards, including 25 on the final drive to run out the clock. He rushed for two touchdowns to account for all three touchdowns.
A play of the game was a 34-yard strike to Anthony Miranda on third-and-25 late in the first half to set up a field goal that gave Americas a 17-14 lead it never gave up.
"This means a lot for all of us," said Moore, a junior who started high school at Pebble Hills before transferring to Americas a week into his freshman year. "We messed up a lot last year and we want to come back this year. This means a lot to me since I transferred from that school. Beating them means a lot.
"It's another step to the playoffs. I hope we can go 4-0 the last four games."
How it happened
Americas controlled big portions of the game, including running 22 of the first 24 plays of the second quarter. The Blazers let Pebble Hills, which hadn't been in a one-score game all year, hang around because of 85 penalty yards, and because three times they let receiver Jalile Bost loose for touchdowns of 79, 78 and 45 yards. He finished with five catches for 210 yards.
The last one, thrown from backup Jacob Ledesma when starter Gael Ochoa sat our for several plays, got the Spartans within 23-21 with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Pebble Hills had the ball back with a shot at the lead on its only possession of the fourth quarter and crisply moved to the Americas 17, but Gutierrez and Timothy Galloway had back-to-back sacks to end the drive.
The Spartans had 202 of their 363 yards and all three touchdowns on three plays, as Americas didn't win this with smoke and mirrors.
"Everybody did their part and we executed very well," Gurierrez said. "The offense did what they were supposed to do, the defense did what they were supposed to do and that's how a good team wins."
When asked if the reverse handspring is part of his normal victory celebration, Gutierrez said, "Not usually, but now I will."
If Americas keeps playing like it did Friday, there will be more handsprings in the offing.
Up next
Pebble Hills will once again play the late game at the SAC, with a 7:30 p.m. Friday kickoff against Socorro. Americas makes the trip to Eastwood for a 7 p.m. Friday start.
More:Strong running game, defense pave way for Austin in home win vs. El Paso High
More:Montwood vs Franklin in District 1-6A is El Paso Times' Game of the Week
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Americas stuns previously unbeaten city No. 1 Pebble Hills, 23-21
